Civil society participation in the Southern African development community (SADC) policy formulation and implementation process
Date
2015
Authors
Moyo, Qhubani
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Abstract
The research sought to find out whether the decision making institutions of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) allow for stakeholder participation in policy making. It is premised on an understanding that the SADC claim to provide for stakeholder participation in its policy making processes. This is stated in Article 23 of the SADC Founding Treaty which speaks of a desire by the institution to open up democratic space and allow for inclusivity in decision-making. Furthermore; there are practical and operational provisions for the participation of the citizens through SADC national committees (SNCs) and an agreement with the SADC Council of Non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
The research was done in 12 SADC countries namely Tanzania. Mauritius, Swaziland, Botswana, Lesotho, Seychelles, Malawi, South Africa, Namibia, Zambia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. It was a qualitative study done through interviews of civil society organisations, government officials and employees of the SADC secretariat. Data was collected using both primary and secondary data methods. Primary data was sourced from four categories of respondents’ namely senior officials from the SADC secretariat; senior government officials whose duties required interaction with civil SADC institutions and senior officials from the SADC Council of Non-Governmental Organisations provided the primary data.
Secondary research data was sourced from documents that included records of minutes of the SADC Summit of Heads of State and Government, minutes of the SADC Council of ministers, SADC communiqués, SADC policy documents, civil society policy drafts, SADC protocols, CSOs and SADC press releases.
The key finding is that while in its founding documents SADC provides for participation of stakeholders in the policy making processes it was a different story in actual practise. The research revealed that the statutes of the SADC which speak of a need for promotion of participation of stakeholders in policy making processes were largely ignored as there is monopolisation of power by the institution of Heads of States and governments. The primary institution for participation of stakeholders in policy making was identified as the SADC National Committees but these were found to be non operational in most of the countries where the research was conducted. The reason for inactive SADC Committees was identified as lack of a structured framework by the SADC to operationalise what is provided for in its statutes. The research found out that if SADC is to achieve its goal of enhancing stakeholder participation in its policy making processes it needs revive and strengthen SADC national committees in each Member State.
The research concludes that for the SADC to ensure effective stakeholder participation in its decision-making processes, the first point of call, and important organ to focus on, is the rehabilitation, strengthening and resourcing of the SADC National Committees. The research further made conclusions that civil society also needs to strengthen its organisational capacity for effective engagement with SADC leadership. The limitations of representative democracy are identified as one of the inhibiting factors for limited participation by stakeholders in SADC policy making processes and the research makes propositions for application of deliberative democracy as a way of enhancing stakeholder participation in the decision-making processes of the institution.
Description
A thesis submitted to the University of Witwatersrand in the fulfilment of the requirements of the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree in Public and Development Management, Johannesburg November 2015
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Citation
Moyo, Qhubani,, (2015) Civil society participation in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) policy formulation and implementation processes, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, https://hdl.handle.net/10539/27257